Technology & IT | Thursday 22 March, 2018 11:00 am |

STARZ PLAY and United Electronics Company (eXtra) have signed a strategic partnership confirming eXtra as STARZ PLAY’s sole agent and distributor across Saudi Arabia in the electronics retail sector.  The agreement was signed last week and will be implemented from mid-March, giving eXtra the sole rights to distribute and sell STARZ PLAY’s subscription and services across the Kingdom.

 

Through this new agreement, STARZ PLAY subscribers in Saudi will be able to signup for the service via all eXtra’s 40 branches in 24 cities, as well as the extra.com portal, making it much easier for residents to purchase STARZ PLAY’s 6- or 12- month plans. What’s more, these can also be offered as a bundle deal upon purchasing selected eXtra’s products.
 

STARZ PLAY is the region’s most popular video-on-demand service, and users can enjoy more than 10,000 hours of the latest blockbuster Hollywood and Bollywood movies, same-time-as-the-US TV shows, documentaries, kids entertainment and dedicated Arabic content all ad-free and in HD or 4K quality. The platform features English, Arabic and French audio options and user interfaces, plus one-click Arabic subtitling.  Moreover, STARZ PLAY provides the biggest boxset selection in MENA with shows such as Friends, The Walking Dead and Grey’s Anatomy; in addition to a distinctive collection of more than 30 Day-and-Date leading TV series such as Power, Vikings and Britannia, among others. Also, the service provides two of the highest grossing movie franchises of all time, Star Wars and Fast And The Furious.  

 
Commenting on the agreement, Mohammed Jalal, CEO of the United Electronics Company eXtra, said: "We are thrilled to add STARZ PLAY to eXtra’s family of products and services, and highlight the role of the company which extends beyond product offerings to include solutions, services and content as well. It’s no secret that the content sector is witnessing a demand from all segments of the society, which necessitates us to conclude such a strategic agreement with an upcoming new player that is expected to become a leader in the streaming video on-demand service.”

 
"The signing of the agreement coincides with the announcement last month of eXtra’s 2017 records, which exceeded the expectations of analysts. eXtra closed the past year with positive results with profits surpassing 140 million riyals. In addition to this, 2017 year resulted in an increase of the company’s market share which exceeded 24% from the year before (2016), despite the decline of the retail market in electronics in Saudi Arabia by more than 10% of 2016 compared to 2017.” Jalal added.

 
“With MENA’s streaming industry on a dynamic growth, our new strategic partnership with eXtra will further strengthen our position as the leading service provider in the region,” says Maaz Sheikh, CEO and Co-Founder of STARZ PLAY. “According to a recent study by IHS Markit, the growth of online video subscriptions is predicted to rise by 64.2% in 2022, with STARZ PLAY holding 24% of the OTT market share. Saudi Arabia boasts the highest percentage of STARZ PLAY sign-ups in MENA, and through this new and exciting partnership, we look forward to being able to service the region even better.”
 
 
eXtra has held similar strategic alliances in the past that strengthened the company's leadership position in Saudi Arabia in particular, as well as in the region as a whole, which serve to provide better customer service and innovative solutions. With the firm’s leading position in the ecommerce world, eXtra’s strategy will continue to focus on strengthening its lead in this sector.

 
eXtra’s vision is to become the only party capable of providing the largest variety of electronic and home appliances with its guarantee of the region’s lowest prices. Customers can purchase eXtra’s broad range of products in 24 cities across the Kingdom and in addition, the firm offers 24-hour services in Bahrain and Oman via the company’s portal (www.extra.com), with payment options ranging from cash-on-delivery, pre-payment through the website, or even instalments through the “Tasheel” financing program. All these are supported by an integrated system of unlimited after-sales service and warranty provided to customers within its unique warranty programs.

 
United Electronics Company (eXtra) is a Saudi company with 100% Saudi capital. It was established in 2003 and listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange as a Public Shareholding Company in 2011. The company has 43 branches across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.